Fuse



F. A. SULLIVAN AND w. L. LUKENS.

Y FUSE.

. ItAPPLILAI i AN. l11, 1911. l ,-gpge v V. Ptelltedllll 8, n 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. A. SULLIVAN AND W. L. LUKENS.

m A l D @l QN @www FUSE.

APPLCATlON FILED JAN. Il. 1917.

E Z LZ1- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- israeae.l

UNITED STATE-S51 ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT. orifice.

oF BETHL'EHEM, `1=ENNSYLVANIA9 FUSE.

To all/whom z't may. concern:

Be it known that we, yFinlux A. SULLIVAN and WILLIAM L. LUKENs, citizens of the Unitedv States'7 and residents of Bethlehem, Lehigh county, State of Pennsylvania, have7 invented certain new and useful Improve-4 ments in Fuses, of which the following isa specification.

This inventionv relates to a sensitive point fuse and has for its principal objects. to provide a fuse` which will-be caused to ex-A plode by striking objects offering practicall no resistance tor enetration -such as balloons and airships, and to provide means" for locking the parts in safe position which are only released by firing the projectile, whereby the latter may be handled with the maximum `degree-of safety. Other objects will appear from the description, taken inconnection with the `drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuse showing the location of the same in the projectile, the outline of the latter being indicated by dotted lines; l

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantia'lly on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the centrifugal shutter which carries the primer;l j

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line l3 3 of Fig. 2 andshowing the primer and related parts in section;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the fuse showing the parts in the positions whichthey occupy when the needle holder has been pushed inwardly by contact with any object. j

he'fuse comprises a body 11 having a rearwardly extending threaded shank orA collar portion 12 which may be screwed into vthe'body 10 of the projectile, which is indicatedin dotted lines iii Fig. 1. Where this fusefbody joins the b ody lof-thepro-- jectile the outsidesurfaces are arranged so that they lare flush and the l c'o/ntour, of the projectileA thereby maintained's'mooth.- Atits forward end the fuse body is formed with a circular recess 13 in which is 'slidingly mounted the sleeve or shank 14 of the needle,

holder 15. ,A plurality of recesses 16 are forme'dtointersect the recess 13 and extend 'transversely or substantially perpendicular to the axis lof the fuse. A Vboss 17 extends into the recess 13 and has slidingly mounted thereinfthe needle 18 which may begcon Specification of Letters Patent.`

, Patented June 8,1920.

Applicationnled January 11, 1917. Serial No. 141,876.

nected-to the needle holder in any desired manner, and is shown as having the screwthreaded vend 19, which is screwed into the holder 15. The needle 18 has the pointed end 20'opposite the threaded end 19 and is formed with a slot 21 through which extendsy the needle-stop pin 22, which has its ends` secured within the boss 17. As will appear from the drawing, an annular space is formed between the sleeve 14 of the needle holder and the boss 17 and a spring 23 is located in this annular spacel with one end thereof in'contact Lthe other end 'bearing against th'' needle holder. Thus it will be Aapparent that the vspring 23 tends to project the needle-holder A and that the stop pin 22 operatingin the slot 21 of the needle limits the extent of this projection. A. centrifugal bolt 24 is mounted in each of the recesses. 16 andis forced inwardly toward the axis of the fuse by a spring l25, the outer end of which acts against a ,screw plug 26. The

in front of the fuse 4 sleeve 14 of the needle holder is formed of such a length lthat when it is in .projected position the bolts 24 lwill be held in the path of inward movement of the 4inner end of 'the said sleeve. In other words, the bolts 24 act as locking or safety means-to prevent inwardnmovement of the needle holder and the needle, if the holder is struck or any force^acts on the same to push it inward. It

will be noted that the outer end of the needle l Yholder is rounded and that a water-proof case 27 passes around the same -and has its end crimped into a recess 28 formed in the fuse body just back of the recesses 16. Thus the parts lin the head of the fuse are 'protected.

The sleeve or shank 12 of the fuse body is also threaded interiorly and has mounted 0F SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYL-` with the fuse v-body and therein thefcylindrical stock or casing 29.

It Awill be observed that the end of the stock or casing which lits in the .sleeve 12 is enlarged and that the bore 30 of the said sleeve 12 is formed with a shoulder 31, whereby the-end of the stock or casing is. spaced 'from --the bottom 32 of the recess in the fuse body. A brass obturator 33 is interposed between the end of the stock or casing and. the

shoulder 31, thereby being held securely in position; 'In the' space between this disk 33 and the bottom 32 of the recess a centrifugal shutter 34 is mounted on a pivot-35, eccen-v trically located with respect to the axis of the projectile and this shutter carries a primer 36, which is normallyheld out of the axis of the fuse and the path of movement of the needle 18 by a spring 37, as illus- 'trated in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that when the projectile is red that the rotation of the latter will develop centrifugal force in the shutterl 34 and on account of its eccentric mounting in the fuse the primer 36 will be moved to the axis of the fuse and in the path of movement ofthe needle 18. As shown in Fig. 3 the fuse body is formed with.an expansion chamber 38 in front of the primer when the latter is in its normal or eccentric position. is prematurely ignited the gases will expand into the-chamber 38 and no.` damage will be done.

The stock or casing is hollow and atthe enlarged end is formed with a recess 39, the end of which is adapted to be closed by a screw plug 40 having a central bore 41. 'A centrifugal cage 42 is located in this recess 39 and is of substantially frusto-conical shape. It has its base flanged out as at 43 and secured between the-screw plug 40 and the bottom of the opening into which the screw plug seats. ThisI 'centrifugal cage comprises a series of substantially longitudinally extending fingers 44 having the weighted ends 45 which are adapted to catch behind and hold the endXof a plunger 46 against longitudinal movement. When the projectile is fired the rotation ofthe same will develop suiiicient centrifugal force inv the fingers 44 so that they will spread apart and permit the plunger to move toward the front of the projectile. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the stock or casing is formed, with an inwardly extending flange 47 spaced rearwardly a slight distance from the enlarged recess 39. A soft lead shock absorbing pad 48 is seated against the forward side of this flange and between this pad and the flanged end 49 of the plunger 46 an expansion spring 50 is interposed, thus tending to force the plunger forward. T'his plunger is formed with a flame conduit 51 and at its forward end carries the black powder delay pellet 52. At its other or rearward end it carries a fulminate detonator charge 53 which may be mounted in a copper tube and the ends thereof cushioned by means of the felt washers 54. This detonator charge is held in position by the screw plug 64 inserted in the end of the plunger. This end of the plunger is arranged in an auxiliary casing or liner 55,

Thus if the primer ing the detonator is mounted in a support 58 which prevents the end.v of the same from whipping when lired. Thus it will be apparent that the detonator charge is arranged in the fuse in a chamber separate from the other parts, whereby if it is accidentally ignited the force of the explosion will be dissipated in the expansion chamber of the fuse j without causing any damage.

Between the flange 56 and the flange 47 of the stock or casing is arranged an annular boostercharge 59, and between its forward end and theflange 47 is-,arranged the asbestos washer 60, and between its rearward end and the flange 56 a like asbestos washer 61 and a cover disk 63 are located. Between .the disk 63 and the flange`56 in an annular space bounded at `the inner edge by the plunger 46 is located an eccentric ring 62, which is formed with a circular opening through which extends the plunger 46. The mounting of this ring is such that when the projectile is fired the rotation thereof de safe positions. When the projectile is fired, l

however, and after it has ceased to be accelerated, the rotation of the same causes the centrifugal bolts 24 to move outward, thereby freeing the end of the needle'holder so that when the latter strikes any object it will be pushed inward, carrying with it the needle or firing pin 18. At about the same time that the centrifugal bolts 24 are moved outward, the centrifugal shutter 34 will move so as to bring the primer 36 into the path of the needle or firing pin 18. The fingers 44 of the centrifugal cage will also be expanded by the centrifugal force, .thus removing them from the path of movement of the end of the plunger 46 and permitting the spring 50to force the plunger forwardly intothe position shown in Fig. 4. This, of course, will carry the fulminate detonator charge 53 so that it will occupy a position within the booster charge 59, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus when the needle holder strikes an object the needle or Afiring pin 18 will penetrate the primer 36 and the ignition of .the same will cause suflicient pressure to puncture the obturator disk 33 and ignite the delay pellet 52. The flame from this pellet will be'conveyed along the flame conduit 51, thereby igniting the detonator charge l 53 which in turn fires the booster charge 59, the

latter being the only charge of suflicient strength to burst the stock or casing 29 and ignite the main charge of the projectile. Of course, the sensitive'ness of the fuse may be regulated by the, tension ofthe spring 23,

Iimum degree of safety. The needlevholder is locked againstinward movement; -the primer is normally held out of the path 'of movement of the needlef the delay pellet is spaced from the primer and'has the interposed obturator disk toseparate the two; and the detonator charge is located in an independent and suliiciently large chamber end of the sleeve for locking said part in means adapted to be released by and out of register or operative position with the booster charge.k

Although the primer'is describedand lillustrated in connection witha detonating.

fuse, it is obvious that this primer together with the needle and .associated parts are not llimited to such a fuse, as they might be used for iring powder charges of any kind or charges of a dili'erent nature, such as incendiary vcharges.

Having thus described the invention what* is claimed and desired to be secured lby Lettersv Patent-is:

1. A sensitive impact fuse for a projectile comprising a primer, a -fuse body .adapted to be secured to the front of thelprojetile and formed with a-cylindricall' recess open at the front thereof, a part projecting at,l

the front of the projectile having a sleeve slidably fitted in said recess, said part adapted to be actuated by the impact ofthe projectile to cause ignition of the primer, a spring withinsaid sleeve acting to project said part, and. a bolt adapted to be released by firing the projectile engaging the rear said projected position.

2. A sensitive impact fuse for aiprojectile comprisingl aI primer', a c movably mounted part projecting at the'front of the projectile adapted to be actuated by the impact of the projectile to cause ignition of the, primer, yielding means acting to project said part, ring the projectile for normally locking said part in projected position, a charge normally in a safe position, yielding means acting tol move said charge to operatlve position and means adapted to be released by firing the projectile for Vholding saidcharge in said safe position.

E 'A sensitive impact fuse for a projectile comprising 'a primer, -a needle, a movable part projecting atthe front of the projectile carrying said needle and adapted tov be actuated by the'impaet of the projectile lto cause.

' ignition of the primer, a sleeve on said part surrounding said needle, a spring arranged within said sleeveacting to project said part, and a bolt :engaging the rear end of the sleeve adapted to be released by firing gie projectile, said bolt normally locking comprlslng a fuse 4. A sensitive impact fuse for a projectile comprising a primer, a fuse body adapted to be secured to the front of the projectile, a part slidably fitted in said body-and projecting at the front thereof adapted .to be actuated by the impact of the projectilel to 1 cause ignition of the primer, said part having its projecting front end rounded, yielding means acting to'project said part, and a thin sheet metal water-proof casi/ng carried by the body inclosing said part and formed to constitute a smooth surface in continuation of that`of the'projectile, its front end -being rounded to fit the rounded front end of said part.

5. A sensitive impact fuse foil a projectile comprisingoa primer, a movably mounted part projecting at the front of the projectile adaptedto be actuated bythe impact of the pathafter the projectile has been 6. A sensitive impact fuse for a projectile'y comprising a movably mounted part projecting at the front of the projectile, yieldin means acting to project said part, a pr1mer adapted to be ignited by said part -when the latter is moved inward by impact a charge normally in safe position adapted to be ignited from Ithe primerandmeans for automatically moving said charge to operative-position after the projectile has been v fired.

7. A sensitive impact fuse fo'r a projectile comprising -a movably mounted part projecting at the 'front of the projectile, yielding means acting to4 project said part, a primer adapted to be` ignited bysaid part vwhen the latter is moved inward by'. impact, a delay pellet normally spacelf-y fifoxplh'the primer, meansl for automatically noving said pellet into a position whereby it may be ignited by the primer afte'r the projectile has been fired, and a charge adapted to be ignited by said pellet.

8. A sensitive impact fuse for a projectile comprising a movably mounted part projecting yat the front ofthe projectile, yieldin means acting .Ito project said part, a pr1mer adapted to be ignited by said part when the latteris moved inward by impact,

one end` spaced from the pr1mer and a charge at the other end, and automatic means for moving said plunger when vthe projectile isfired to carry the pellet into a position to be ignited .by the primer.

9,` A sensitive impact fuse for projectiles body adapted to be .at-

a hollow plunger having va delay pellet -at i tached todthe front of the projectile, a needle holder slidably mounted in said body and normally projecting at the front thereof, a spring acting to force said holder into projected position, stop means for limiting the amount which said holder projects, a needle carried by said holder, and a primer adapt- `ed to be ignited by said needle upon impact ofthe projectile, and a slidable bolt engaging said holder to positively maintain it in 10 natures.

FRANK A. SULLIVAN. Y WILLIAM L. LUKENS. 

